The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 27th, 1924. THE SPEECH.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 27th, 1924. THE SPEECH.

The Gove: nor-Generul s Speech which | marked the opening of Parliament yesterday, was a.s connless i.h similar daciiineiits which have gone before. There was the usual amount of padding ■ elating to ]ast events, while the reference to proposed legislation was either vague as to details, or covering the lines of earlier Ministerial pronouncements. New Zealand is to maintain its Imperial ideal by giving further preference concessions to Great Britain through customs' duties. This is both praiseworthy and useful. It suggests that unity and affection becoming family lies w hich really bind, while as an advertisement for the Dominion at Home and abroad, the step will be Jound well worth the money involved. It is satisfactory to know that good progress is being made in regard to relief to discharged soldiers with land difficulties. The dear land was the primary cause of all the trouble, and thnt resulted from the rush to put the men on the land irrespective of cost or the qualifications of the new settlers. New Zealand lias grown wise after the event, but it is a costly experience all round, and the country in particular will have to pay heavily. The legislation proposed affecting the lifting of the moratorium has been foreshadowed for some time. Hero again New Zealand has been qeporqqs to the mnptgagpra, but

time calls for a limit, and so machinery legislation will be passed to ensure tho application of the moratorium only where the merits of the ease call lot such postponement. There are 'two Royal Commission reports mentioned in the Speech. The first deals with taxation, and is said to lie unanimous. The report was compiled at slant notice, anJ judging by the friendly reference to tile subject in 1 lie; Speech, is likely to otter some sort of a lend to the Government. or, p-erhaps, \m> might say, something to shelter behind as justifying the concessions which are to Ik- id; tie in taxation. The second mloi l is that, re.ating to the revenue Irotn forestry reserves payable to local bodies. This is a matter of vital imporanee to the Coast local bodies, which have over many years boon endeavouring to secure both relief and justice from the laiding of the new department coutrolling forestry, li is over a year now since the Royal Commission sat. but for some reason the findings have been kept secret. They will be available soon now, and it remains to be seen what is to be done in cr|uity for the lmn| bodies. Dining the years the agitation for relict have been carried on, the Westland Comity Council lias been a prime mover in seeking to obtain justice for the revenue taken from the local body through depart mental channels. There is a third report \et to collie the It ail ways enquiry but it will not, ho available till some time next month. The presentation of that document will cause the greatest stir in Parliament, where in the interim there are sure to he echoes ol the late strike, but Parliament will not be able to dismiss the whole position till the i<port itself, with the Government, recommendations as to the policy to lie adopted, are before the House. The Speech itself is sure to provoke some hostile amendments, hut. the railways settlement of the strike will probably bring forward the star amendment to traverse the Government's luTioit. Strange to say the Speech makes no reference to the late loan, but it discloses the surplus it 1 most approximating two millions which is the motive for the proposal to grant remissions in taxation. Nor i> there anything said about the overhauling of expenditure as a means to sounder administration. All these subjects will be treated more in detail in the Financial Statement which Mr Massey has in an advanced state of preparation. The Speech concludes with a valedictory paragraph from His Excellency, whose term of office expires in September. Lord Jellicoe lias been popular—deservedly so. There is the suggestion ahruad that our popular Go-vernor-General should not he allowed to depart without some national expression of goodwill. Be- that as it. may. there is no doubt I.ocii Jellicoe lias filled the bill admirably during bis term of office, and it is perhaps not ext inordinary that New Zealand desires dint his successor should be also a son of tho sea. ’fame as the Speech as a whole is as to the Government's policy, we may expect the session to be more lively, not to say stormy. The stage is now set for the great play.